Ralph Lauren Assistant Merchandise Planner

BoF Careers; Watford; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Ralph Lauren Corporation in Watford is seeking an Assistant Merchandise Planner to support the merchandising team in planning, analysing and executing product strategies that drive sales, margin and stock availability. You will own reporting and support seasonal reviews across channels.

You will collaborate with Buying, Allocations and ECOM, attend trade meetings and provide data-driven insights. Strong Excel skills and clear communication are essential for success in this role.

Qualifications

• Commercial and analytical mindset with ability to interpret data.
• Clear communicator able to present to varied audiences.
• Autonomous work style with strong time management.
• Demonstrates logical analysis and problem solving.
• Accurate, detail oriented and able to handle multiple tasks.
• Experience with allocation and retail math preferred.

Responsibilities

• Update reports on a weekly, monthly, and ad hoc basis.
• Support stocking and stock availability across channels.
• Attend and contribute to weekly trade meetings with a clear trade message.
• Provide accurate data for seasonal reviews and sign offs.
• Help forecast and optimise department stock delivery schedules.
• Collaborate with Buying, Allocations and ECOM teams.

Skills

Commercial & Analytical

Effective communicator

Autonomous worker

Logical analysis

Time management

Relationship building

Excel proficiency

Attention to detail

Retail maths

Resilience

Product understanding

Allocation experience

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Company Description

Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE:RL) is a global leader in the design, marketing and distribution of premium lifestyle products in five categories: apparel, accessories, home, fragrances, and hospitality. For more than 50 years, Ralph Lauren's reputation and distinctive image have been consistently developed across an expanding number of products, brands and international markets. The Company's brand names, which include Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren Collection, Ralph Lauren Purple Label, Polo Ralph Lauren, Double RL, Lauren Ralph Lauren, Polo Ralph Lauren Children, Chaps, among others, constitute one of the world's most widely recognized families of consumer brands. At Ralph Lauren, we unite and inspire the communities within our company as well as those in which we serve by amplifying voices and perspectives to create a culture of belonging, ensuring inclusion, and fairness for all. We foster a culture of inclusion through: Talent, Education & Communication, Employee Groups and Celebration.

Company Description

Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE:RL) is a global leader in the design, marketing and distribution of premium lifestyle products in five categories: apparel, accessories, home, fragrances, and hospitality. For more than 50 years, Ralph Lauren's reputation and distinctive image have been consistently developed across an expanding number of products, brands and international markets. The Company's brand names, which include Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren Collection, Ralph Lauren Purple Label, Polo Ralph Lauren, Double RL, Lauren Ralph Lauren, Polo Ralph Lauren Children, Chaps, among others, constitute one of the world's most widely recognized families of consumer brands. At Ralph Lauren, we unite and inspire the communities within our company as well as those in which we serve by amplifying voices and perspectives to create a culture of belonging, ensuring inclusion, and fairness for all. We foster a culture of inclusion through: Talent, Education & Communication, Employee Groups and Celebration.

Position Overview

TheAssistant Merchandise Planner supports the merchandising team in planning, analysing and executing product strategies that drive sales, margin and product inventory. They play a key role in supporting with reporting and trackers so the department can ensure the right products are available at the right time and in the right quantities to meet customer demand.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Operation/Financial

• Update reports on a weekly, monthly, and ad hoc basis.
• Actualises the departments WSSI weekly.
• Attends and prepares for weekly trade meetings and able to formulate and deliver a trade message independently.
• Provides accurate data to support analysis for key seasonal meetings including hindsight and sign offs.
• Updates and forecasts department line cards to maximise sales potential and optimise stock availability across channels.
• Systematically updates seasonal recodes.
• Owns department stock delivery schedule and communicates updates to team.
• Responsible for actioning seasonal markdowns & communication to stores. Commercial Awareness
• Participate in regular store visits, collating store reports prior and assisting in creating follow up presentations.
• To undertake competitor analysis on a regular basis and present any relevant points. Training and development
• To adopt a positive and proactive approach to their own training and development as well as that of their peers.
• Proactively promotes improvements to working practices and systems.
• Participates in company initiatives as appropriate. Communications & Partnerships
• Creates and maintains strong working relationships within cross-functional teams: Buying, Allocations, ECOM and the retail store teams.
• Liaises with Assortment Planning and Buying partners to review and assist in the formation of the seasonal lessons learnt. Influencing future Buys, using analysis and historical data to ensure commercial decisions are made.

Experience, Skills & Knowledge

• Commercial and Analytical
• Effective communicator - able to communicate messages clearly and concisely to a variety of audiences
• Able to work autonomously
• Able to demonstrates logical analysis and problem-solving skills
• Able to organize, prioritise tasks and manages time wellin order tomeet deadlines
• Able to build and maintain productive relationships within team environment
• Competentin using Microsoft excel
• Attention to detail
• Show ability or aptitude in retail mathematics and able to learn technical applications quickly
• Able to demonstrate resilience and remain positive during challenging periods
• Desire to have fun at work and an appreciation for product
• Allocation experience preferred